EAI to spread out at Abingdon offices

Defense contractor taking over building at Paca Industrial Park

Harford Week

EAI Corp., a national defense contractor based in Abingdon, is expanding its headquarters in William Paca Industrial Park from 25,187 to 45,530 square feet, the company announced last week.

Barney Michel, EAI's vice president of management and integration, said that he expects to complete the project in the spring.

The company will occupy the entire building at 1308 Continental Drive, which it previously shared with Convergence Corp., a mouse pad and counter mat manufacturer.

EAI specializes in manufacturing materials used by the departments of Defense and Homeland Security - gloves, suits and breathing apparatus - for protection against biological and chemical attacks.

The company's location in Abingdon enables it to provide services for the government and military including Aberdeen Proving Ground and the Army's chemical agent disposal facility, Michel said.

EAI has been outgrowing its space, Michel said. Because of heightened emphasis on national security, the company has recorded more than 25 percent growth each year for the last three years.

"The expansion that we're doing is in part with the Department of Defense's installations," Michel said.

The new space will be converted into a warehouse and offices. Michel also expects to increase the number of employees in the Abingdon office by at least a dozen.

"We are proud of the work EAI is doing in support of the homeland defense effort. We are equally proud that they are growing here in Harford County," said Harford County Executive James M. Harkins.

Gilchrest to make Iraq fact-finding trip

Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, a 1st District Republican, will travel to Iraq tomorrow with seven other members of Congress to meet with intelligence officials, military commanders and coalition troops to assess security and reconstruction efforts, the search for Saddam Hussein and the search for weapons of mass destruction.

The congressional delegation will land in Kuwait City, Kuwait, then travel to Baghdad, where members will visit a police academy and a hospital, and have dinner with troops. They also will visit the site of a recently discovered mass grave and meet with international troops on patrol in Iraq, according to Cathy Bassett, a spokeswoman for Gilchrest.

The delegation will then travel to Mosul, Kirkuk and Hussein's hometown, Tikrit, returning to Andrews Air Force Base late Friday.

Aberdeen Proving Ground plans training exercise

Aberdeen Proving Ground has scheduled a training exercise for Tuesday through Thursday.

Day- and nighttime exercises are planned, and may include live firing and the use of aircraft and watercraft, according to George Mercer, a spokesman for the base.

Questions, complaints and damage claims may be directed to 800-688-8705 or 410-278-1147.

Bones found in Forest Hill part of teaching skeleton

A human leg bone found at Friends Pond in Forest Hill has been determined to have been part of an instructional skeleton, a spokesman for the Harford County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

The leg and partially attached foot bones found Monday were connected with metal wires and screws such as those used in articulating skeletons used to teach human anatomy, spokesman Edward Hopkins said. Growth on the bone indicated that it had been in the pond for several months. Police said it likely was dredged up by Tropical Storm Isabel.

Police searching for 2 men who held up Exxon station

Two men, one armed, robbed the Emmorton Exxon station in the 1800 block of Old Edgewood Road in Edgewood early Tuesday, a spokesman for the Harford County Sheriff's Office said.

The men entered the store about 1 a.m. and displayed a gun, ordering clerk Anwar Khursheed, 45, to the floor, sheriff's spokesman Edward Hopkins said.

The robbers took less than $500 in cash and cigarettes.

Disaster center opens at Aberdeen fire station

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a Disaster Recovery Center on Thursday at the Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Company's Perryman Substation at 1432 Perryman Road. Designed as a one-stop assistance facility for victims of Tropical Storm Isabel, the center will be open for at least two weeks. The hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

"The Disaster Recovery Center will be staffed with representatives from a variety of agencies which can provide assistance and direction for those displaced or rebuilding after this devastating storm," said County Executive Harkins. "The center should serve as a convenient location for one-stop shopping for disaster assistance."

The county departments of Community Services; Inspections, Licenses and Permits; and Planning and Zoning will be represented. The Office of Economic Development also will participate. The city of Havre de Grace plans to have representatives at the center, as well.